Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 06-09-27

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From: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>

CONTENTS

[01] EURLINGS - REPORT

[02] SPOKESMAN - ERDOGAN

[03] PARTIES - SUBCOMMITTEE

[04] HELIOS - INQUIRY

[01] EURLINGS - REPORT

The reports says the European Parliament ``expresses its disappointment over the fact that, in spite of its contractual obligations, Turkey continues to maintain restrictions against vessels flying the Cypriot flag and vessels approaching from harbours in the Republic of Cyprus, denying them access to Turkish ports, and against Cypriot aircraft, denying them flying rights over Turkey and landing rights at Turkish airports.``

The European Parliament ``seeks to work with the Turkish authorities to enable them to comply in full with their obligations in this respect without seeking to exacerbate domestic political tensions contrary to the interest of long-term reconciliation for Cyprus`` and furthermore ``regrets that Turkey maintains its veto against the participation of the Republic of Cyprus in international organisations and in multilateral agreements.``

It ``urges Turkey to take concrete steps for the normalisation of bilateral relations between Turkey and all EU member states, including the Republic of Cyprus, as soon as possible.``

The report says the European Parliament ``notes the current difficulties in EU-NATO cooperation and calls upon Turkey to reconsider its position towards including all EU member states,`` and also ``reminds Turkey that recognition of all member states, including the Republic of Cyprus, is a necessary component of the accession process.``

[02] SPOKESMAN - ERDOGAN

Speaking at in his party`s parliamentary group meeting, Erdogan said yesterday that Turkey did what it had to do before April 24 2004.

Commenting, Pashiardis said that it ``just categorically and provocatively confirms that the Turkish side remains immovably attached to the Annan plan and that after the referendum (Turkey) has nothing more to say regarding the Cyprus problem.``

[03] PARTIES - SUBCOMMITTEE

A joint communique issued after a regular meeting of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot parties today, says that the leaders and representatives of G/c and T/c parties ``stressed once again the need to materialise the ideas of rapprochement by organising concrete bi-communal events under the auspices of the political parties and agreed to set up a sub-committee to achieve this aim.``

The next meeting will be held on November 8.

[04] HELIOS - INQUIRY

Testifying before the Commission on Wednesday, Vasiliou, who was a seasonal member of staff in the Summers of 2004 and 2005, said her colleagues ``did not feel well`` on the plane and always complained of chilliness in the passenger cabin after take off.

Constantinos Akkides, who worked for ``Helios`` from February 2001 until October 2005, said the staff was forced to work long hours and that if any member of the staff refused to do so he or she received a warning in writing, which said measures would be taken, not excluding dismissal.

Panayiota Kolokasidou, senior official at the Licencing Authority for airlines, also testified before the Commission on Wednesday. Asked by the Commission`s President Panayiotis Kallis about Jim Tailor`s report, which was submitted to the Civil Aviation Department on 17 March 2005, in which he referred to a lack of funds in ``Helios``, Kolokasidou said the Authority had not been informed about checks carried out regarding the financial situation of the company.

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